Adjustable pants presser



Nov 1, 1949. (a. G. A. LAUZON ADJUSTABLE PANTS PRESSER Filed Sept. 24, 1948 4 Sheets-Sh eet l //z m'a w INVENTOR.

650865 G. LAUZOM Nov 1, 1949. G. A. LAUZON 2,486,486

ADJ US TABLE PANTS PRES 5 ER NOV 1949- GAG. A. LAUZON 2,486,486

ADJUSTABLE PANTS PRESSER Filed Sept. 24, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 JNVENTOR. 65049656. 4. 4 4 (/2044 kmflwrwzym Arroewa Y6.

Patented Nov. 1, 1949 ADJUSTABLE PANTS .PRESSER George G. A. Lauzon, Three Rivers, Ontario, Canada Application September 24, 1948, Serial No. 50,963

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved pantspressing apparatus which is adapted for steamp-ressing and drying pants.

The main object of my invention is to provide pants-pressing apparatus of the character indicated which are not only adjustable to almost any length and width of pants, but equipped to press both legs of a pair of pants individually and simultaneously.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus with means for steaming, pressing and drying'the pants to be pressed.

A further object is to have a pressing apparatus of the mentioned class wherein an adjustable means serves to suspend the pants to be pressed in an inverted raised or lowered position with the leg portions disposed on both sides of a stationary steaming and heating member and exterior members serve to press the pants against the latter, while other adjustable means hold the waist portion of the pants in place with special means on the apparatus serving to press or form the waist portion simultaneously with the pressing of the leg portions.

It is also an object to dispose the pants-pressing apparatus in a vertical arrangement to render it convenient and accessible to use, to speed up operation and to occupy a minimum of floor space. The vertical arrangement particularly involves pressing the pants in inverted position so that the pockets thereof fall away from the legs of the pants and allow the latter to be pressed without the normal presence of the pockets with the result that the pockets are not pressed with the legs and do not leave pocket press marks on said legs.

A practical object is also to provide such an apparatus with various controls and means for initiating and terminating various stages of operation at will, as well as to embody a reasonably simple construction which will be certain to operate and not likely to getout of order.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in further detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a pants-pressing apparatus embodyin the in;- vention in a practical form;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same apparatus;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, as seen from the top of'Figure 2 Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the heating and steaming member termed a mid.- clle buck of Figure '1, with portions broken away to disclose internal detail;

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the same middle buck as taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same member taken on line 6' 6 in Figure 4;

Figure '7 is an enlarged elevation of one of the side pressing members or side bucks of Figure 1, with portions removed to disclose internal detail;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the same pressing member as seen from the top in Figure 7;

Figure '9 is a transverse section taken on line 9-9 in Figure 7 Figure 10 is a transverse section taken on line iii-ill in Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of an inside cuff pants hanger on an enlarged scale which also appears in operative position in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the same pants hanger illustrated in Figure 11.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

On conventional pressing machines and apparatus for pressing trousers, pants and the like, it is usual to lay the garment involved upon a horizontal pressing board and then fold down a hinged pressing board upon the garment, and when the latter has been pressed, the hinged pressing board is raised and the pressed garment rel-eased. Such apparatus may serve for certain purposes, but only one trouser leg is pressed at a time and the apparatus itself occupies a considerable width of floor space.

Now it has occurred to me that it should be possible to hang the trousers or pants and press the two legs simultaneously by a vertical arrangement of special pressing means to reduce the pressing time and also the floor space occupied by the apparatus as a whole. After duly considering this problem, I have succeeded in designing apparatus for the mentioned purpose in a manner to fulfill the foregoing objects, as will now be particularly pointed out and explained.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring again to the drawings, the present pants or trouser-pressing apparatus, generally indicated at M, includes a frame built up of two opposite base members 15, I5 (Figures 1 and 3) connected at the rear with a cross-member I 6 and at the resulting rear corners having a pair of upright posts in the form of channel members H, l!

rising rigidly therefrom interconnected by a pair of spaced horizontal cross-members l8 and |9 to confer rigidity upon the resulting frame upon the rear of the frame, and extending at least down to the cross-member I9 is an upwardly-projecting pipe or. hollow crane member 28 which has a forwardly-arcuate portion 2| terminating in an open downwardly-projecting end 22 serving a purpose which will presently be explained.

The first-mentioned horizontal spaced base members I may be channel members or angle irons from which a pair of angle irons 23, 28 project rigidly upward at the forward ends of said members l5, while a further pair of angle irons project upwardly from intermediate portions of said base members at 25, 25, the four upright members 23, 24, 25 and 28 forming corner supports for a blast chamber 21 having the sides and front thereof closed, as shown at 28, 29 and 30, for

example. The rear of mentioned blast chamber is provided with an open frame 3| to which is attached a fan chamber 32 containing a fan 33 mounted on a motor shaft 34 of an electric motor 35, which is supported upon a base 38 and held in position by bolts 31 or the like. The motor is connected to a power means by means of the conductors in a conduit or pipe 38 communicating with the motor inlet 39, while from the inlet box 38 connections run forwardly through the conduit 48 to a switch 4| mounted upon the blast chamber for turning the current on or off to start or stop the fan as may be required during operation.

Returning again to the frame of the machine, and particularly the uprights IT and the crosspieces l9 and I8, it may be stated that preferably the pipe 20 extends down through the latter and may be brazed or welded thereto in order to hold the pipe firmly in place withits overhanging crane portion 2| spaced apart upon pipe 28, and between the two cross-bars |8 and I9 are a pair of forwardly-projecting supports 42, 83 which are reinforced by collars 44, 85 which may be brazed or welded upon pipe 28 in order to secure them in place. The supporting members 42 and 43 project forwardly in horizontal spaced relation and are brazed or welded to an inclined met'al bar 46 of a stationary intermediate steaming and heating member or buck 41, as best seen in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

The mentioned intermediate stationary buck just referred to comprises a pair of sheet metal members or plates 88, 49 spaced apart by a plurality of blocks 58, 50, etc., distributed between them in spaced-apart relation and being integral with a rear wall 5| which is forwardly inclined in the upward direction and to which the bar 48 is bolted by a plurality of bolts 52, 52. At the top and bottom, as well as the forward ends of these plates 48 and 49 they are bent inwardly toward each other to form overlapping end walls 53, 54 at the bottom, 55,56 at the top, and at the forward portion the overlapping upwardly and rearwardlyinclined front walls 5'! and 58, these Walls being secured together by rivets or screws 59, 59, etc., so that their overlapping portions hold the forward and rear walls 48 and 48 in a rigid unit which is hollow like a fiat box, as it were, and rigidly supported on the forwardly-extending supports or arms 82 and 53 secured to rear pipe 28. Thus, the end walls 54 and 55 constitute the bottom and the top portions of the buck 81, it being evident that the top 58 is considerably narrower than the bottom 54, while an intermediate portion of the bottom is arched upwardly to form a curved clearance portion 68 for a purpose which Will later be explained, with a rear and front wall 5|, 58 converging upwardly toward each other and the two walls 48 and 4'9 provided with a large number of small apertures 5|, 6| through which steam and heated air are intended to escape into the garment to be pressed, as will later appear. In order to provide this buck 41 with steam, a steam pipe 62 provided with a valve 63 is connected with a boiler or steam supply, not shown, and extends upwardly behind the previously-described frame at 84, terminating in the upper end in a T 65 from which a forwardly-projecting pipe 85 extends to the lower portion of buck 41, being. provided in an intermediate position with a quick-acting valve 8'! having an operating lever 68. Beyond this valve the pipe continues as pipe 69 entering through a collar 78 upon the rear wall 5| of buck 41. Within the latter the pipe continues as a perforate pipe TI to which are connected two upwardly-projecting perforate upright pipes 12, I2 terminating in blind ends at the upper portions thereof, the pipes "H and 12 being pierced on all sides by a large number of perforations 13, 13, etc., so that live steam from the steam-supply pipe 62 may enter the interior of the buck through the perforations in the mentioned pipes and escape from the interior of the buck through the previously-mentioned perforations 8|, 6| in the side plates 48 and 49 of this buck into the garment which may be in contact therewith, as will be more particularly described later on. In addition to the foregoing, means are included to heat the buck so that when the garment. has been steamed it may thereafter be heated and dried by heat while still remaining in position. The buck is heated so that when live steam is introduced therein, this steam will not be condensed by contact with a cold buck.

Thus, to the steam-supply pipe 82, which receives its supply of steam from the boiler (not 1; shown), is connected a valve 63 which connects through a short pipe 83' with a T 14, to which in turn is connected a pipe 14' also connected to a T 15. The latter has a pipe 16 connected thereto with a further T 65 connected to the upper end, while to this T is connected elbow 11 having a pipe connected thereto and extending toward the stationary middle buck and through wall 5| into the latter. Within this buck the pipe is continued upwardly and downwardly through a group of loops l8, I9, 80, 8|, 80 and.

83' with pipe 84 provided with check valve 85 which connects through T 86 and T 81 with descending pipe 88. The latter connects through elbow 88 with bottom pipe 89 which connects through elbow 89' with water collector 90 provided with pipe 9| connecting the collector with the boiler. The T M is interconnected with T 8'! through a pipe 75, check valve 86' and further pipe 81' and thereby provide a valve-controlled connection between the steam-supply and return systems.

In following through the passage of the live steam through the stationary middle buck, it is, of course, obvious that the steam supply enters pipe 62 from the boiler and, passing through valve 83, reaches T 74 through short pipe 53 and then rises through pipe 74' to and through T 15 into pipe i6 and up through T 65 to elbow Tl. From the latter the steam travels through pipe '5'? in through wall 5| into the left side or end of 76 the middle buck, as may be seen in Figure 4.

amiss buck wall 51 the steam rises to the top of the buck into the inner loop 18 and there turns down to descend through the bottom loop 19, whence the steam rises again to the top to loop 80, from which it descends within buck walls 5], 58 to the bottom return loop 31. Upon entering this loop, steam is returned upward to the upper loop 80 in the top of the buck from which it again descends to inn-er bottom loop 19', and then again rises to the top into upper loop 18'. From this upper loop the steam descends within wall 51 to pipe 82 through which it passes out through this wall to elbow 82 and then down in pipe 33 and by way of elbow 83' to pipe 34. Thereafter the steam passes through valve 85,, through T 8.6, TB! and elbow 88 and pipe 9 and elbow .89 into water collector 30,, from which the steam returns to the boiler through pipe 9L As the heating of the buck by the means just outlined .is intended to be a constant feature during operation, valve 6.3 .sufiices to turn the steam on which remains on during the entire course of the operation which thus does not require a service valve which requires to be turned on and oil frequently in the course of the day. It has been mentioned that the steam issuing from the perforations l3, T3 in the perforate pipes 11 and 12 72 tends to escape through the perforations 6i, 6] in the two side plates '48 and 4'9 of the buck 4] but this is not strictly true in thefullest sense, because at the lower end of this buck is connected a suction pipe 92 in the wall 51 thereof for the purpose of withdrawing damp heated air from the buck and from the garment outside the latter, so that in large measure the heating and pressing operation includes also drying of the garment on the buck by the withdrawal of the moisture from the garment inwardly through the mentioned perforations Bi, 6] in the two side plates of the buck. The suction pipe 9.2 is provided exteriorly of the -buck with a quick-acting valve 93 having an operating lever 94 and like valve 61, "being controlled in a manner which will presently be explained. The suction tube or pipe 92 beyond "valve 93 connects with suction pump or vacuum tank or the like of more or less conventional construction and therefore superfluous to show, so long as reference thereto has been made.

While on the subject of steaming and steam heating of the garment to be pressed upon the apparatus, it may well serve to return to the ating bar 9 5 connected at the upper end thereof 6 to a link 98 by means of :a ball-and-socket connection B9 9, this link being connected at the other end by a second ball-and-soclret connection or joint to an eccentric portion or lever H21 at the rear end of a semi-rotary shaft I02 supported by a plurality of hearings in the upper of the blast chamber indicated at $203 and terminating forwardly and exteriorly of the blast chamber in a handle H34 by which to turn the shaft H32 and thereby raise or lower the vertical operating bar 91 and thereby also raise and open the slats 95, 95 of the shutter structure or close the same down in front of the 'fan 33. Of course, a lever could be substituted for shaft 102 pivotally mounted within the walls of the blast chamber 6 and the rear end thereof connected to the vertieal operating bar 91 if so desired, or any other construction for operating 'bar :91 maybe used.

Spaced slightly forward of the shutter structure just described is a vertically-disposed radiator W5 connected at the upper end thereof to a pipe lllfi which in turn connects by means of the I V5 with pipe fi l previously described, and at the lower end, the radiator :has an outlet pipe H18 connected by a pipe 109 and a check valve Hi! to the T 86 previously mentioned as connecting the lower T8! with the pipes 88 and 89 comrnunicating with the liquid receiver 90 which in turn is connected by pipe M to the return of the boiler. Thus, the heat produced by the steam passing up from supply pipe 62 and pipe 54 through pipe 106 to the radiator will be carried into the blast chamber by fan 33 when motor 35 operating, and the blast from the fan will be controlled by the shutter structure which in turn is controlled by handle 1134 on the front of the apparatus, the shutter members 95, 95 controlling the amount of air being driven in by tan 33 past radiator I05 into the blast chamber 21.

The blast chamber 21 is roofed over by a plurality of converging top walls VI 12, I I3, I14, I 1.5 which terminate at their inner ends in .an upwardlydirected narrow chimney or neck which is elongated from front to back, but narrow transversely. To the upper portion of the neck or chimney MB is attached .a fabric bag ill opening down into the chimney ll 5 and secured to the latter within the same'lby a narrow neck portion M8, while the upper portion of the bag has a cleft 119 into which the previously-described fixed buck 41 extends a limited distance downward, the cleft separating the upper portions of the bag into two side members lZ-i), i2 l. The narrowed or neck portion 118 :of the bag is preferably of fabric knownas Celanese, and is attached in any known manner to the neck portion H5 of the blast chamber, as for example, by having the ends sewed to .a metal wire or band and the same attached within said neck portion or chimney I Hi, or in any other manner which suggests itself to any person skilled in the art, the purpose being to receive the blast of heated air in chamber 21 originating from fan 33 past radiator I65 and up through the neck portion H6 into the bag H1. Ihe latter is intended to be inserted in the waist portion of a pair of trousers when inverted and mounted upon the apparatus for pressing, two further features being associated with the men'- tioned 'Celanese bag and the upper portion of the blast chamber The first of the mentioned features is that the same steam pipe 106 which supplies the upper end of radiator 35 with steam is continued into the center upper portion of the blast chamber by pipe 122, this pipe connecting by an elbow 123 with a quick-acting "valve I24 operated by lever 125 connected to the inner or rear end of a manually-slidable plunger I26 exposed upon the forward portion of the neck member lid of the blast chamber. Extending upwardly from the mentioned valve IE4 is a steam nozzle or nipple I 21 directed upwardly into the neck H 6 for introducing steam into the heated air which is received from the blast chamber 21. The heated air received from the blast chamber as propelled into the same by the fan 33 is, of course, intended to be directed upwardly through the neck portion H6 into the fabric bag l-il to balloon the same within the waist portion of the trousers or pants to pressed, while the plunger 126 may be operated to open valve I24 and thereby cause steam to escape from nozzle I21 to mix with the heated air and thereby promote the pressing of the waist portion of the trousers by ballooning that portion, it being also the intention that the trousers will have the upper portions I20, I 2| extending a very short distance into each of the trouser legs of the pants to be pressed, as will be pointed out in further detail when the manner of suspending the trousers is discussed.

The other feature associated with the bag H1 and the neck portion II6 of the upper blast chamber concerns the fitting of the waist portion of the trousers about the bag and fastening the trousers below the latter. For this purpose a rear waist holder I28 is provided with a rear bowed portion I29 adapted to fit within the rear portion of the waist of a pair of trousers to be pressed, to the forward ends of the bowed portion just mentioned, a pair of forwardly-extending side bars I30 and I3I are rigidly connected and rearwardly slidably supported in a pair of bearings I32, I32 fixed upon the sides of the neck portion or chimney II6, while at their forward ends the side bars I30 and I3I are connected in a unit by the transverse handle member I33. Upon the lower edges of the forward portions of the mentioned side bars, the latter are serrated, as indicated at I34, adapting them to engage with a pair of side struts I35, I35 fixed upon the forward portions of the sides of the chimney member I I6, with the result that by manipulating the handle portion I33 and raising the forward portions of the side bars, the latter may be adjusted rearwardly or forwardly according to the width of the trouser waist to be accommodated at the rear.

In similar manner, a second waist holder I36 is supported slidably in a channel member I31 fixed to the forward end of the chimney II6 by brazing or welding, or the like, the forward end of this member I36 having a bowed or arcuate strip I38 adapted to fit within the forward portion of the trouser waist, while the side edges of the holder are serrated in order to adapt the member to be adjustably shifted and located in the channel member in engagement with the inner side projections I39 thereof according to the desired position of the bowed strip I38 determined by the size of the waist to be engaged thereby. At the forward end, the second waist holder I35 may be provided with a depending handle I40 by which to manipulate it and adjust it in position.

At this point it may be well to consider the means by which the trousers or pants are suspended with the trouser legs on opposite sides of the stationary middle buck 41 before proceeding to describe the two outer movable bucks that cooperate with it. Extending upwardly through the pipe 20 and its overhanging portion 2| is a flexible cable terminating at the lower end in a pivotal connection I42 to which is connected the outer end of a lever or arm I43 fixed upon the rear end of a shaft I 44 supported in bearings I 45 upon the side wall 28 of the blast chamber 21 and upon the forward end in front of the latter chamber provided with a rigidlymounted pedal I46 by which to partly rotate shaft I 44 and thereby lower the lever I43 and draw the cable I4I down into the pipe 20 in such fashion as to raise the upper forward end of this cable, as will now be explained. At the forward end 22 of the arcuate pipe portion 2|, the cable I 4| is preferably bifurcated to form the two ends I41, I41, each of which terminates in a ring I48 for suspending a special hanger therefrom, so that two hangers are thus hung side by side from suspension rings I40, I48. Upon the rings I48 are suspended the hanger hooks I49, I49 of a pair of hangers I50, I50. Each hanger includes an upper arcuate portion I5I having a lower shoulder portion I52 projecting outwardly therefrom on one side and from the outer end of said shoulder portion I52 depends a rigidly-attached internal cuff-engaging portion I53 having the outer edge I54 serrated or roughened in order to insure that friction will occur between member I53 and the interior of the cuff or lower end of the trouser leg upon one side thereof, At the upper portion of the arcuate section I5I' of each hanger upon the other side is pivotally connected an upwardlyextending limb I55 by means of a pivotal connection I56, while the lower portion of member I55 is sharply bent outwardly in a forward direction at I51 to form a second shoulder portion terminating at the end in a depending inside cuff-engaging member I58 with serrations or teeth I59 on the outer edge thereof and thus resembling the previously-mentioned cuff-engaging portion I53. Between the members I5I and I55 of the hanger in each case is secured a leaf spring I60 which tends to urge these members apart upon pivot mounting I56, while between these members is also located a limiting rod I6I forming by its end heads I62, I63 a stop which prevents members I5I and I55 from separating more than a predetermined distance under bias of spring I60. It is thus clear that spring I60 tends to urge members I53 and I 58 apart and cause the roughened or serrated portions I54 and I59 thereof to engage in the opposite sides of the interior of a trouser cuff. The arrangement is such that each hanger is intended to engage in one of the two trouser legs independently of the other, spring I60 serving to hold members I53 and I58. When one of these hangers is to be inserted in the trouser leg, the members I53 and I58 are, of course, first forced toward each other manually and inserted in the interior of the trouser cuff or leg and then released within the latter so that the edges I54 and I50 thereof engage by friction within the collar or trouser leg and due to the bias of spring I 60 the inside cuff-engaging members I53 and I58 will therefore hold the trouser leg at the bottom part thereof in a tensed condition from within, and when both trouser legs are similarly suspended upon opposite sides of the stationary buck 41, the waist portion of the trousers or pants will extend down about the fabric bag II1, while the edge of the waist is engaged by the bowed portions I29 and I38 of the two waist holders I28 and I36. The limiting bars or rods I6I naturally extend through side apertures in members I5I and I55 and serve only to prevent the inside cuff-engaging members I33 and I58 from being expanded too widely only in idle position, when no trousers are engaged thereby.

In order to cooperate with the stationary steam-heated buck 41, the apparatus is provided with a pair of outer movable bucks I64, I65 which are both pivotally mounted or supported upon the previously-described, forwardly-extending, rigid arms 42 and 43 supporting the stationary buck 41. For this purpose both of the latter members 42 and 43 are provided upon the sides thereof adjacent to the rear pipe or post 20 with reinforcing side blocks I60, I61 secured thereto by screws or rivets I68, etc., while through both arms extends a vertical pivot shaft I69. Upon this pivot shaft is mounted a pair of fixed collars I10, I'II at the ends thereof, and immediately within these collars are. mounted rear bearing portions I12; I13, and extending from there are a pair of supporting arms I'M, I15 to which the buck I64 is attached, as will now be detailed. As best shown in Figures '7 I and 8, as well as 9, this side buck I64 primarily includes a rigid metal frame I16 which is substantially the same shape and coextensive with the previously-described rigid middle buck 41,,

the frame consisting of the upwardly-convergbrazed or welded for supporting this buck. The

arms 117.4 and I15, at the points where they are secured to the vertical bar I83 just mentioned,

are reduced to form the forwardly-extending lighter arm members I84, I85 to which a vertical handle [86 is. attached by screws or bolts I81, I81. In addition, a pair of attachment members in the form of a pair of rods I88, I89 are brazed or welded. to the interior of the bowed. or arched members I8 I and. I82 in spaced. relation within the side members ill and I18 of the frame. I

The entire frame is overlaid upon its fiat inner side with a pad of cotton batting or flannel. Idll, andover this is applied a layer of fabric, such as celanese or any other suitable fabric Hit, the sides of this fabric being brought in. over the side: portions Ill and. no oi the frame and. formed into hems I 92, it enveloping attachment rods. H4, I95 occupying the interior of these heinsg. and. upon these attachment. rod-s- I 94- and M5 are: applied a series of. S hooks I9 5; ISE, etc, upon side. of the buck, the other ends of these hooks. being arranged to engage over the attachment rods [88. and I89 previously described. In the same way, the lower end of the fabric I SI is brought up outside of. the lower frame member Hill and formed into a hem In? about the rod we to which a pair of s hooks in, ice are atric. is brought over the upper frame member H9 to terminate in a hem anc containing an attach.- ment rod. 2M which. is connected by a pair of further S hooks 19.9,. Ida to the upper arcuate bar or rod lat of the frame. In this fashion, all four sides of the fabric are held. tight and anchored to the frame of the buck so that the inner side. 2.92 of this buck is flat with the fabric and its underlying cushion I96 suspended across the open area in frame H6 and presenting the flat side against the leftside of. the rigid buck 41. The arrangemen-t. is. such with regard to this left buck lot that by manipulating. handle- I85: and drawing the same toward the left, the buck will be swung upon members I174 and ["15 by the hearing H2 and Ill-3: rotating about pivot shaft Ilia such fashion as to expose the left side or: plate 48 of the middle buck M The right buck I65 is of similar construction throughout to that already described in reierence to the left buck I64, except that all parts are reversed so that the right buck I. 65 serves to present its flat side toward the right. side or plate 49 of the rigid center buck ll. Without going into too much detail regarding. the right buck, it may be stated that it is also provided. with outwardly-arched, cross-rods 253, 204 forming portions of the frame thereof, and. having a central vertical bar 205 welded or brazed thereto to which the handle members 296, 2.01 are permanently attached by brazing or welding, these handle members terminating forwardly at the. vertical handle 2B8 attached thereto by which to manipulate the right buck I65; Rearwardly, the members 2% and 2M. project as. rear supporting arms Z65, 2H3 terminating at the rear ends in bearing. members 2, H2 mounted upon the vertical pivot shaft Hill which also supports the previously-described arms llll and I15 of the left buck It' 'L The bearing. members. all and M12 are disposed between the rigid arms d2 andv as which support the middle buck and pivotally support the buck I65 in. such position as to be. capable of being swung away from the middle buck. 4.1 by means of handle 2% in the some. manner as the handle its may be used toswing theleftbuck I64 away from the middle buck. The bearing, members W2, I13, as well as Z. and M2, may well. be ball-bearing members, or any other kind of bear-- ing structures, facilitating easy swinging of the two side bucks to and from the middle buck. during. operation, and as such bearings are well known, it appears superfluous to illustrate the same in detail,

In order to complete the facilities for operation of the apparatus, it should be noted that. the two pedals. 2l3 and 2M are fixed upon. the forward ends of shafts 2 I5 and Elli provided at. their rear ends with arms or levers Ell and H8 connected by long vertical links 2 19* and 22% to the operating levers M- and 68 of valves 93 and lil previously described.

In order to ensure that operation willcontinue without break-down or selling the clothing, to be pressed, plates 48 and 69 of center buck 4!- may be made of stainless steel or of other alloy or metal which resists oxidation 'or rusting, it is optional to cover buck ll with cotton bats ting, with flannel and further cotton batting,

desired. Thus covered, a more uniform and. even distribution of steam results, and the pressed. trousers or pan-ts are prevented from becoming shiny and glossy. The steam pipes 82 ill, which communicate with the interior of the. buck for heatin the same, may consist of copper tubing, if desired, and this is also trueof the perforated steam pipes H and '12. In similar fashion, the walls of the blast chamber 2'! may be made of stainless steel: sheets or other rust-proof: metals or alloys, and. this principle wellrefer to all the metal parts throughout the apparatus, even including the trouser hangers I50, and I prefer to be entirely unlimited with respect. to the materials used so long as they are suitable for the purpose.

When a pair of trousers is to be pressed. upon this apparatus, steam is first turned on by opening valve 63 and thereafter the switch ll is closed to start the motor 35 rotating the fan 33, and the side bucks Hi l and I65 are swung apart by means of handles I86 and 288 until.

they stand wide open from the stationary center buck. 411, at which moment the pedal I46 is depressed by the foot outwardly toward. the left side in order to raise the rear lever I43 andthereby lower the suspension rings I48 and with them the pants hangers I50, I50. If deemed necessary, these hangers may be released momentarily from the suspension rings by unhooking their hooks I49 therefrom and each hanger inserted in the lower end or cuff of each one of the pairs of trouser legs so that they project equally therefrom with their upper arched portions I51, and then the trousers are put into position with one leg up on each side of the stationary buck 41, the crotch of the trousers being accommodated by the arcuate cutout portion 00, best shown in Figure 4, and both of the hangers I50 hooked on rings I48 so that the pants are suspended on both sides of the middle buck. Thereafter, the waist portion of the trousers is brought down about the fabric bag Ill with the two upper divided portions I and I 2| projecting slightly up into each of the trouser legs, and then the two waist holders I28 and I are adjusted apart to fit the interior of the waist portion. Subsequently, the foot is brought down on the pedal I46 again toward the right in order to lower lever I43 and thereby raise the two hangers just sufficiently to allow the trousers to lie flat upon the center buck, and finally, by using handles I86 and 208, the side bucks I64 and I65 are swung together upon the trouser legs and the trousers or pants are in position for the pressing operation. Th plunger I26 is pushed to open valve I24 and thereby inject steam up into the fabric bag Ill and at the same time the handle I04 is manipulated to open the shutter slats 95, 95 to desired extent in order to propel heated and humidified air from the radiator I05 and past the nozzle I21 up into the mentioned bag in order to steam the waist of the trousers, whereupon the foot is brought down on the extreme right pedal H4 in order to lower the lever 2I8 thereof and with it the link 220 in order to open the upper valve 01 and cause steam to enterpipe 69 and thereby introduce steam into the interior of the center buck 41, in the meantime, the handles I86 and 208 controlling the side bucks I54 and IE5 being held in position with the bucks in contact with the trouser legs. When the steaming has been completed-4n fact while it is still in progressthe foot is brought down on the second pedal toward the right 2I3 in order to lower the lever 2I'I thereof and with it the link 2I9 to the second valve 93 in order to cause suction through pipe 92 to withdraw the humid air from within the center buck until all of the steam is removed and the pants are substantially dry, the valve I24 being in the meantime also closed by withdrawing plunger I26 and by the foot closing valve 61 by applying the foot to the right side of pedal 2I4. After the steaming and the drying have been completed, the trousers are pressed and may be removed by opening'the side bucks by means of handles E86 and 200 and the foot applied to the left side of pedal I46 in order to raise the rear lever I43 thereof and thus lower the hangers I50 so that they may be unhooked from rings I48. After the trousers have thus been released from the supporting rings, they may be removed from the center buck and then the han ers themselves removed from the lower cuff portions of the trouser legs and the latter then either laid out or hung up until called for by the patron who has left them for pressing. Naturally, variations in the above-mentioned method of using the apparatus may be applied by the user as desired, the time of the various operations being acquired by experience are nonetheless quite simple so that a pair of pants may be readily pressed by the apparatus in a very short time.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and features of this apparatus may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid member, a supporting arm projectin rigidly forward from the rigid member, an upright flat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arm and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck,

a pivot mounting upon said supporting arms, a pair of swinging arms independently supported upon the pivot mounting, a pair of upright movable frames individually supported upon the swinging arms upon both sides of the stationary middle buck to form side bucks cooperating therewith, handles upon the movable frames or side bucks for swinging the latter against or away from the perforate sides of said middle buck, each side buck having a substantially flat side carrying a fabric cover presented toward the respectively-adjacent perforate side of said middle buck, heating means and a perforate steam pipe located within said middle buck, control means including a valve for controlling the flow of steam into said middle buck through said perforate steam pipe, and a supporting member fixedly mounted upon said upwardly-extending rigid member and projecting forwardly therefrom over said middle buck in a position to support a pants hanger thereover with the legs of the pants suspended at both sides of said middle buck in effective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks.

2. An adjustable pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid member, a pair of supporting arms projecting rigidly forward one above the other from the rigid member, an upright flat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arms and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck, a pivot shaft extending vertically through both supporting arms, a pair of swinging arms spaced apart one above the other having bearings pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon one side of the middle buck, a second pair of swinging arms similarly spaced apart having bearings pivoted upon said pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon the other side of said middle buck, an upright movable frame fixed upon each pair of swinging arms and having a flat side thereon facing one of the perforate sides of said middle buck to form side bucks cooperating therewith, a pair of handles individually connected rigidly to the side bucks for swinging the latter toward and away from said middle buck, the latter and the side bucks being wider at the bottom than at the top and having their forward and rear edges converging toward the top and each side buck having a padded fabric mounted upon the fiat working side thereof with attachment means mounted upon the outer side for holding the edges of said fabric and thereby the fabric as a whole in place, a steam-heating pipe within said middle buck connected to an exterior source of steam supply, a perforate steam-supply pipe also mounted in the latter and externally thereof having an operative control valve, an accessible operating member for operating the control valve at will, a suction pipe communicating with the interior of said. middle buck having a further control valve and being connected to an outside source of suction, a second operating member connected to the further control valve for operating the latter at will, an overhanging supporting member rigidly mounted on said frame and terminating in a downwardly-directed end spaced above the topv of the middle buck, and adjustable suspension means pendent from said end for supporting a pair of pants hangers thereon in order to suspend the. pants in inverted position with the two legs thereof disposed on the opposite sides of said middle buck in effective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks.

3. An adjustable pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid memher, a pair of supporting arms projecting rigidly forward one above the other from the rigid member, an upright. fiat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arms and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck, a pivot shaft extending vertically through both supporting arms, a pair of swinging arms spaced apart one above the other having bearings pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon one side of the middle buck,

a second pair of swinging arms similarly spaced apart having bearings pivoted upon said pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon, the other side of said middle buck, an upright movable frame fixed upon each pair of swinging arms and having a fiat side thereon facing one of the perforate sides of said middle buck to form side bucks cooperating therewith, a pair of handles individually connected rigidly to the side bucks for swinging the latter toward and away from said middle buck, the latter and the side bucks being wider at the bottom than at the top and having their forward and rear edges converging toward the top and each side buck having a padded fabric mounted upon the fiat working side thereof with attachment means mounted upon the outer side for holding the edges of said fabric and thereby the fabric as a whole in place, the bottom of the middle buck having an intermediate upwardly-arched clearance portion for engaging against the crotch of the pants, a steamheating pipe within said middle buck connected to an exterior source of steam supply, a perforate steam-supply pipe also mounted in the latter buck and externally thereof having an operative control valve, an accessible operating member for operating the control valve at will, a suction pipe communicating with the interior of said middle buck having a further control valve and being connected to an outside source of suction, a second operating member connected to the further control valve for operating the latter at will, a blast chamber fixed beneath the middle buck and having an upwardly-directed neck portion or chimney, a flexible porous bag connected to the latter for ballooning the waist of the pants to be pressed and having a pair of upwardly-projecting bag portions, a steam radiator in the chamberconnected to the outside steam-supply source, driven means for propelling air past the radiator to the neck portion into the flexible bag, adjustable waist-holding means shiftably mounted adjacent to said neck portion for engaging within the edges of the waist of said pants, an overhanging supporting member rigidly mounted on said frame and terminating in a downwardlydirected end spaced above the top of the middle buck. and adjustable suspension means pendent I4 from said end for supporting a pair of pants hangers thereon in order to suspend the pants in inverted position with the two legs thereof disposed on. the opposite sides of said middle buck in eifective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks.

4. An adjustable pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending. rigid member, a pair of supporting, arms: projecting rigidly forward one above the other from: the rigid member, an upright fiat hollow frame fixed upon. the supporting arms and. having perforate sheet metal sides: to form a stationary middle buck, a pivotv shaft extending vertically through both supporting arms, a pair of. swinging arms spaced apart one above the other having bearings pivotally mounted onv the pivot shaft and extending: from the latter upon one side of the middle buck, a. second pair of swinging arms similarly spaced apart having bearings pivoted upon said pivot shaft and. extending from the latter upon the other side of said. middle buck, an upright movable frame fixed upon each pair of swinging arms and, having a flat side thereon facing one of the perforate sides of said middle buck toform side bucks cooperating therewith, a pair of handles individual-1y connected rigidly to the side bucks for swinging the: latter toward and. away from said middle buck, the latter and. the side bucks wider at the bottom than at the. top and having their forward. and rear edges converging toward the top and each side buck having a padded fabric suspended on the inner side for holding the edges of said fabric and thereby the fabric as a whole, in place, the bottom of the middle buck having an intermediate upwardlyarched clearance portion for engaging against the crotch of the pants, a steam-heating pipe within saidv middle buck connected to. an exterior source of steam supply, aperforate. steam-supply pipe also mounted in the latter buck and externally thereof having operative control valve, an accessible operating, member for operating the control valve at will, asuotionpipe communicating with the interior of said middle buck having a. further control valve and being connected to an outside source of suction, a second operating member connected, to the further control valve for operating the latter at will, a blast chamber fixed beneath the middle buck and having anupwa-rdly-directed neck. portion or chimney, a flexible porous bag connected to the latter for ba1- looning the waist of the pants to be pressed and having a pair of upwardly-proj ecti-ng bag portions,

.1 a steam radiator in the chamber connected to the outside steam-supply source, a fancham-ber connected to one portion of the blast chamber, a motor-driven fan rotatable in the fan chamber for driving air past the radiator to the neck portion in the flexible bag, manually-adjustable means for controlling the flow of heated air to said flexible bag, a pairof adjustable waist holders shiftably supported adjacent tosaid neck portion or chimney for engaging with the edges of the I waist of said pants, an overhanging hollow supporting member rigidly mounted on said frame and. terminating in a downwardly-directed end spaced above the top of the middle buck, a cable in: the supporting member having the upper end thereof projecting through said downwardlydiirected. end and terminating in at least one suspension ring for suspending therefrom one or more pants hangers and thereby suspending the pants in: inverted position with the twoleg poi"- tions thereof? disposed on the opposite sides of said middle buck in effective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks, a shaft rotatably supported upon a portion of the blast chamber, a lever on one end of the shaft connected to the other end of said cable, and an operating member fixed upon the other end of said shaft for shifting said cable in said hollow support and thereby raising or lowering the suspension ring above the middle buck.

5. A pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid member, a supporting arm projecting rigidly forward from the rigid member, an upright flat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arm and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck, a pivot mounting upon said supporting arm, a pair of swinging arms independently supported upon the pivot mounting, a pair of upright movable frames individually supported upon the swinging arms upon both sides of the stationary middle buck to form side bucks cooperating therewith, handles upon the movable frames or side buck for swinging the latter against or away from the perforate sides of said middle buck, each side buck having a substantially fiat side carrying a fabric cover presented toward the respectively-adjacent perforate side of said middle buck, heating means and a perforate steam pipe located within the middle buck, control means including a valve for controlling the flow of steam into said middle buck, a supporting member fixedly mounted upon said upwardly-extending rigid member and projecting forwardly therefrom over said middle buck, a suspension member supported thereby over the latter, and a pair of pants hangers adapted to be suspended from said suspension member for supporting the pants in inverted position with the legs thereof suspended at both sides of said middle buck in eifective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks, each pants hanger including a pair of upwardly-extending portions hinged together and having a leaf spring disposed between them biasing them apart, a limiting bolt or rod projecting through apertures in the lower portions of said members ing in opposite directions from the lower ends of said members and terminating in downwardlyprojecting bars having the outer edges thereof serrated or roughened in order to promote friction between said bars and the inside portions of the cuffs or lower ends of the pants to be suspended and adapted to engage the trouser legs from within.

6. An adjustable pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid member, a pair of supporting arms projecting rigidly forward one above the other from the rigid member, an upright fiat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arms and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck, a

ivot shaft extending vertically through both supporting arms, a pair of swinging arms spaced apart one above the other having bearings pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon one side of the middle buck, a second pair of swinging arms similarly spaced apart having bearings pivoted upon said pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon the other side of said middle buck, an upright movable frame fixed upon each pair of swinging arms and having a flat side thereon facing one of the perforate sides of said middle buck to form side bucks cooperating therewith, a pair of handles individually connected rigidly to the side bucks for swinging the latter toward and away from said middle buck, the latter and the side bucks being wider at the bottom than at the top and having their forward and rear edges converging toward the top and each side buck having a padded fabric mounted upon the flat working side thereof with attachment means mounted upon the outer side for holding the edges of said fabric and thereby the fabric as a whole in place, the bottom of the middle buck having an intermediate upwardly-arched clearance portion for engaging against the crotch of the pants, a steam-heating pipe within said middle buck connected to an exterior source of steam supply, a perforate steam-supply pipe also mounted in the latter buck and externally thereof having an operative control valve, an accessible operating member for operating the control valve at will, a suction pipe communicating with the interior of said middle buck having a further control valve and being connected to an outside source of suction, a second operating member connected to the further control valve for operating the latter at will, a blast chamber fixed beneath the middle buck and having an upwardly-directed neck portion or chimney, a flexible porous bag connected to the latter for ballooning the waist of the pants to be pressed and having a pair of upwardlyprojecting bag portions, a steam radiator in the chamber connected to the outside steam-supply source, a fan chamber connected to one portion of the blast chamber, a motor-driven fan rotatable in the fan chamber for driving air past the radiator to the neck portion and the flexible bag, control means including a group of pivotallymounted slats arranged in a vertical series between the motor-driven fan and the radiator, an operating bar interconnecting the slats to open and close them simultaneously, a manuallyoperated member supported in the blast chamber with an externally accessible handle for manipulating the member at will, a lever on the latter member connected to said operating bar for opening or closing said slats from the last-mentioned handle, adjustable waist-holding means shiftably mounted adjacent to said neck portion for engaging withinthe edges of the waist of said pants, an overhanging supporting member rigidly mounted on said frame and terminating in a downwardly-directed end spaced above the v top of the middle buck, and adjustable suspension 'means pendent from said end for supporting a pair of pants hangers thereon in order to suspend the pants in inverted position with the two legs thereof disposed on the opposite sides of said middle buck in effective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks.

7 An adjustable pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid memher, a pair of supporting-arms pnojecting rigidly forward one above the other from the rigid member, an upright fiat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arms and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck, a pivot sha ft extending vertically through both supporting arms, a pair of swinging arms spaced apart one above the other having bearings pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft and extending from the latter upon one side of the middle buck, a second pair of swinging arms similarly spaced apart having bearings pivoted upon said pivot a 17 shaft and extending from the latter upon the other side of said middle buck, an uprightmova'blelframe fixed uponeac-h pair ofswingingarms and having a fiat side thereon facing one of the perforate sides of said middle buck'to form side bucks cooperating therewith, a pair of handles individually connected rigidly to the side bucks for swinging the latter toward and away from said middle buck,' the latter'and th'e side bucksbemg wider at the bottom than at the top and having their forward and. rear edges. converging toward the top and each side buck having a padded fabricmounted upon the flat working side thereof with attachment-means mounted upon theouter side for holding the edges of said fabric and thereby the fabric as a whole in place, the bottom of the middle buck having an intermediate upwardly-arched clearance portion for engaging against the crotch of the pants, a steam-heating pipe within said middle buck connected to an exterior source of steam supply, a perforate steam-supply pipe also mounted in the latter buck and externally thereof having an operative control valve, an accessible operating member for operating the control valve at will, a suction pipe communicating with the interior of said middle buck having a further control valve and being connected to an outside source of suction, a second operating member connected to the further control valve for operating the latter at will, a blast chamber fixed beneath the middle buck and having an upwardly-directed neck portion or chimney, a flexible porous bag connected to the latter for ballooning the waist of the pants. to be pressed and having a pair of upwardly-projecting loag portions, a steam radiator in the chamber connected to the outside steam-supply source, driven means for propelling air past the radiator to the neck portion into the flexible bag, an upwardly-directed steam nozzle in the blast chamber within the neck portion or chimney thereon, a pipe connecting the steam nozzle to the outside steam-supply source, a valve between the latter pipe and said steam nozzle, a valveloperating member on said valve, a manuallyoperated member connected to the valve-operating member and extending through said chimney into accessible position upon the forward portion of the presser, manually-controlled adjustable means for controlling the flow of heated air to said flexible bag, a pair of adjustalble waist holders shiftably supported adjacent to said neck portion or chimney for engaging within the edges of the waist of said pants, an overhanging supporting member rigidly mounted on said frame and terminating in a downwardly-directed end spaced above the top of the middle buck, and adjustable suspension means pendent from said end for supporting a pair of pants hangers thereon in order to suspend the pants in inverted position with the two legs thereof disposed on the opposite sides iOf said middle buck in effective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks.

8. An adjustable pants presser including a frame having an upwardly-extending rigid member, a pair of supporting arms projecting rigidly forward one above the other from the rigid member, an upright fiat hollow frame fixed upon the supporting arms and having perforate sheet metal sides to form a stationary middle buck, a pivot shaft extending vertically through both supporting arms, a pair of swinging arm's spaced apart one above the other having bearings Piv- .18v i a otally. mountedon-the pivot shaft. and extending fromthe latter upon one side of the middle buck, a secondpair of swinging'arms similarly spaced apartshavi'ng. bearings; pivloted upon said pivot shaft andextending fromithelatter upon the other side of, said middle-buck, an upright movable framefixed upon each pair of. swinging. arms and'having aflat-side thereonfacing one of the perforate sides *of'saidmiddle buck to formside bucks cooperating therewith, a pair of handles individually connected rigidly to the side bucks forswingingthelatter towardand away from saidmiddle buck, the latter and the side bucksxbeing. Wider at the bottom'than at the top and having theirforward and rear edges converging toward the top and each side buck having a padded fabric mounted upon the fiat Working side thereof with attachment means mounted upon the outer side for holding the edges of said fabric and thereby the fabric as a whole in place, the bottom of the middle buck having an intermediate upwardlyarched clearance portion for engaging against the crotch of the pants, a steam-heating pipe within said middle buck connected to an exterior source of steam supply, a perforate steam-supply pipe also mounted in the latter buck and having a pair of branch perforated pipes projecting upwardly into the same and externally thereof having an operative control valve, an accessible operating member for operating the control valve at will, a suction pipe communicating with the interior of said middle buck at the rear thereof having a further control valve and being connected to an outside source of suction, a second operating member connected to the further control valve for operating the latter at will, an overhanging hollow supporting member including a pipe rigidly mounted on said frame and terminating in a downwardly-directed open end spaced above the top 0f the middle buck, an enclosed blast chamber fixed beneath the middle buck upon the frame and having an upwardly-directed neck portion or chimney directed toward said middle buck, a flexible porous bag connected to the neck portion for lballooning the waist of the pants to be pressed and having a pair of upwardly-projecting back portions adapted to be inserted in the leg portions of said pants, a steam radiator in the blast chamber connected to the source of steam supply, a fan chamber connected to one portion of the blast chamber, a motordriven fan rotatable in the fan chamber for driving air past the radiator to the neck portion and the flexible bag, control means for controlling the flow of heated air to said flexible {bag including a group of pivotally mounted slats arranged in a vertical series between the motor-driven fan and the radiator, an operating bar interconnecting the slats to open and close them simultaneously, a manually-operated member supported in the blast chamber with an externally accessible handle for manipulating the member at will, a lever on the latter member connected to said operating bar for opening or closing said slats from the lastmentioned handle, a pair of manually-adjusted waist-holding means shilftably mounted adjacent said neck portion for engaging within the forward and rear edges of the waist of said pants, an upwardly-directed steam nozzle in the blast chamber within the neck portion or chimney thereon, a pipe connecting the steam nozzle to the outside steam-supply source, a valve [between the latter pipe and said steam nozzle, a valveoperating member on said valve, a manually- 19 operated member connected to the valve-operating member and extending through said chimney into accessible position upon the forward portion of the presser, a cable in the hollow supporting member having the upper end thereof projecting through said downwardly-directed end and terminating in at least one suspension ring for suspending therefrom one or more pants hangers and thereby suspending the pants in inverted position with the two legs thereof disposed on the opposite sides of said middle buck in effective position to be pressed against the latter by said side bucks, a shaft rotatably supported upon a. portion of the blast chamber, a lever on one end of the shaft connected to the other end of said cable, and an operating member fixed upon the other end of said shaft for shifting said cable in said hollow support and thereby raising or lowering the suspension ring above the middle buck.

GEORGE G. A. LAUZON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rawlinson Aug. 9, 1938 Number 

